Guinness Pro12: Cardiff Blues set to sign Chiefs ace Gareth Anscombe

Gareth Anscombe: Is believed to thanked colleagues and supporters ahead of a move to Wales

Chiefs playmaker Gareth Anscombe is poised to leave New Zealand to take up a contract in Wales with the Cardiff Blues.

Rumours that the 23-year-old would move to Wales, for whom he qualifies for through his Cardiff-born mother, have been circulating since April.

The move now looks certain following reports that he had thanked colleagues and supporters at a Chiefs dinner in Hamilton ahead of his departure.

Anscombe, who can play both fly-half and full-back, is expected to join the Guinness Pro12 side - where he will link up with former Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett - once he has completed his commitments with the Chiefs.

Exiting

The defending Super Rugby champions will play the Brumbies in Saturday's Super Rugby playoff in Canberra.

The son of ex-Ulster boss Mark Anscombe, the player has already met with Wales coach Warren Gatland and reports have linked him a call-up into the national setup in time for the November Tests.

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Although he has signed with Auckland for the NPC, Anscombe is understood to have a get-out clause allowing him to go to Wales.

Anscombe will be the latest player to leave the Chiefs, with Mils Muliaina and Bundee Aki (both to Connacht), Asaeli Tikoirotuma (Harlequins), Tanerau Latimer (Toshiba in Japan) and Mahonri Schwalger (returning to Samoa) all exiting after the playoffs.

However, the Chiefs are hoping to convince Richard Kahui and Hosea Gear to join for the 2015 Super Rugby season.

Both players are currently plying their trade in Japan with Kahui at Toshiba Brave Lupus and Gear playing Honda Heat after he ended his stay at Toulouse early.